Delhi Pollution: Curbs On Construction Work, Petrol, Diesel Cars Lifted As Air Quality Improves

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday revoked the actions under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR as light showers have brought some relief in the air quality of the national capital. The city's daily average Air Quality Index (AQI), measured at 4 pm each day, showed an improvement from 395 on Monday to 312 on Tuesday.

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"AQI of Delhi has improved from the levels of 395 recorded on 27.11.2023 at 04:00 PM and has been recorded as 312 at 04:00 PM today about 83 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-III actions (Delhi AQI 401-450) and preventive/ mitigative/ restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage-III are underway. There is a likelihood of the AQI remaining in very poor category in next few days," the order reads. 

However, actions under Stage 1 to Stage 2 will be in place. "Actions under Stages-1 to Stage-II of the GRAP shall however remain invoked and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all implementing agencies concerned in the entire NCR and agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stage-I & II of GRAP in order to obviate the implementation of Stage-III of GRAP actions owing to AQI level further slipping into 'Severe' Category," the statement added.

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Earlier on Nov 18, GRAP IV curbs were done away with in view of a relative improvement in the air quality conditions. These restrictions banned the entry of polluting vehicles from other states, mandated work from home for 50 per cent of employees and barred offline classes for primary school children. The restrictions came into effect on November 5.